O.C. surfer remains in critical condition

Wipeouts at Mavericks can push surfers under 20-foot-tall waves and toward a rocky shoreline. The break claimed the life of professional surfer Mark Foo in 1994. In this file photo Evan Slater catches a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Surf Contest near Half Moon Bay, California, Saturday, February 13, 2010. Twenty-four of the world's best big wave surfers are competing. FILE: Jane Tyska/Oakland Tribune/MCT

"He got completely sucked over the falls," Clark said. "He tried getting over the left side, which is way gnarlier. He was way too inside.")

The Half Moon Bay Review newspaper is reporting an update on the condition of Orange County surfer Jacob Tette, critically injured on Saturday at the Mavericks surf spot in Northern California:

Frank Quirarte, a longtime photographer at the famed surf site and an organizer of the international surfing contest, has posted an unofficial update on the condition of 30-year-old surfer Jacob Trette. It reads:

"As of last evening Jacob was moving his arms and legs and his pupils are dilating. They're lowering his body temp so he doesn't use as much oxygen and keeping him heavily sedated. He has an anoxic brain injury do to lack of oxygen to the brain. Too early to tell how much damage has been done if any. Sending our prayers to him and his family.")

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A surfer reported to be from Orange County remains in critical condition Monday after he nearly drowned Saturday at the Mavericks surf break near Half Moon Bay in Northern California.

Several media outlets identified the surfer as Jacob Trette, 30, of Orange County. His hometown has been given as Laguna Beach and San Clemente.

A spokesman at Stanford Medical Center did not identify him but said the surfer is listed in critical condition Monday morning.

ESPN.com posted a frame-by-frame photo breakdown of the series of waves that hit Trette. It was around 10 a.m. Saturday and a large group of surfers were riding 12-15 feet waves when a set of 20-25 foot waves suddenly developed. As surfers paddled to get over the lip of the fast moving swell, some, including Trette, were pushed back down the face of the wave as it broke.

San Francisco Bay Area television station KTVU posted amateur video on its website which it said caught the series of waves that injured Trette.

Authorities said the surfer was found face down in the water, according to the Associated Press.

Grant Washburn, a big-wave surfer who helps organizes The Jay at Mavericks big wave contest, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that conditions on Saturday were unpredictable.

"Maverick's is pretty dynamic even compared to other big wave sites," Washburn told the newspaper. "But it doesn't matter if you are the most fit person in the world if you get the worst-case scenario. I saw the footage and I see he had a chance to get away and got unlucky."

Washburn told the Sentinel he met Trette on Friday, but did not know him well.

Ari Delay, battalion chief with the Coastside Fire, said officials responded to the near drowning incident at about 10 a.m. Saturday. Gary Migdol, spokesman for the Stanford Medical Center, said the patient was in critical condition as of 5 p.m. Sunday.

A person in a personal watercraft and a second person in a kayak were able to get the unconscious man to the beach, where they performed CPR. When paramedics arrived, the surfer had regained a pulse, Delay said.

Mavericks is home to a major big wave surf contest each winter. The break was relatively unknown outside of a small group of locals until the early 1990s. Veteran big wave surfer Mark Foo of Hawaii drowned while surfing Mavericks for the first time in December 1994.

Wipeouts at Mavericks can push surfers under 20-foot-tall waves and toward a rocky shoreline. The break claimed the life of professional surfer Mark Foo in 1994. In this file photo Evan Slater catches a wave during the first heat of the Mavericks Surf Contest near Half Moon Bay, California, Saturday, February 13, 2010. Twenty-four of the world's best big wave surfers are competing. FILE: Jane Tyska/Oakland Tribune/MCT
Wipeouts at Mavericks can push surfers under 20-foot-tall waves and toward a rocky shoreline. In this file photo Evan Slater jumps off his board, right, as Anthony Tashnick hangs on during the semifinal heat of the Mavericks Surf Competition, Wednesday, March 2, 2005, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. FILE: AP Photo/Ben Margot
A Register file photo shows the huge waves that are generated during the winter at the Mavericks surf spot near Half Moon Bay. In this photo an unidentified surfer rides a huge wave in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2006. FILE: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
A Register file photo shows the huge waves that are generated during the winter at the Mavericks surf spot near Half Moon Bay. In this photo from Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, Ion Banner loses control on a giant wave during the Mavericks surfing contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Big wave surf fans will not be allowed on the beach or bluffs during the legendary Mavericks contest this year, after spectators were swept off their feet by strong breakers at the last contest, harbor officials said. The contest has new organizers, a group comprised of the surfers themselves, who agreed only participants and staff would have beach access this year, said Peter Grenell, general manager of the San Mateo County Harbor District. FILE: AP Photo/Ben Margot
Greg Long surfed a wave at Maverick's on November 29, 2008 where he broke his eardrum and could have been killed. FILE: Robert Brown/BillabongXXL.com
Bystanders scramble as a rogue wave washes over the beach during the Mavericks Surfing Contest on Saturday Feb. 13, 2009 in Pillar Point, Calif. FILE: AP Photo/Chad Ziemendorf
Ken Collins rides a wave during the Mavericks Surf Contest on Friday, Feb. 27, 2004, at Half Moon Bay, Calif. FILE: AP Photo/Aric Crabb
A 2006 file photo of Maverick's big wave surfing tournament in Half Moon Bay. FILE: Eugene Garcia, The Orange County Register
Ross Clarke-Jones wipes out as Ryan Seelbach surfs a wave during their heat of the 2008 Mavericks Surf Contest. FILE: Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
Greg Long, in orange, scored a ten for catching this wave during the finals of the 2008 Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Saturday January 12, 2008. FILE: Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
Ryan Seelbach turns back to the break after catching a wave during his Round 1 heat of the 2008 Mavericks Surf Contest. FILE: Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register

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